Pak religious leaders dont foresee any change in US policy in Obama regime

Lahore , Nov 6 (ANI): Religious leaders in Pakistan are of the opinion that the mere election of Barack Hussein Obama as the new President of the US will not change America s falling democratic image and growing Muslim hatred unless he reversed the present incumbent in the White House George Bushs policies, especially those foreign policies deemed as anti-Muslim.

They say that Pakistan should not expect any major policy change from Obama, as, in their view, he would stick to US interests chalked out by American authorities.

We should not expect anything from Obama, since he is likely to adhere to the same national interests as perceived by US authorities, The News quoted the religious leaders as saying here while reacting to Obamas victory and possible change in US policy vis-a-vis Pakistan .

Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) Secretary General Syed Munawar Hasan said that Obama ought to change all anti-Muslim policies specially those on the war-on-terror if he wanted to improve US image and make the world an abode of peace. Otherwise, the whole world would be consumed by the fire which Bush had set ablaze in the name of war on terror, warned Hasan.

Advising Obama to make serious efforts to know why America had become a symbol of hatred all over the world, Munawar said that America always backed dictators in Muslim countries and trampled over the democratic and public decisions. Similarly, Washington practiced dual standards against Muslims regarding the war on terror and always patronised occupants in crushing freedom struggles in Palestine and Kashmir, he said and added that the striking similarity in US elections and Pakistans elections of February 18 was that both ex-Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf and George W Bush were rejected by people for their policies.

Jamiat Ahle Hadith president Senator Sajid Mir said that expecting anything from Obama for Pakistan s security and sovereignty would be being too optimistic. We must not be optimistic that he would be a well-wisher of Pakistan and respect our sovereignty since he would prefer US national interests and policies of Washington . Only time would tell if it was a mere change of face or Washington was really concerned with its falling image in the world, said Mir.

Expressing similar opinion, JUI-F deputy information secretary Hafiz Abubakar Chaudhry said that Obamas entry would not change US policies on Pakistan . Referring to Obamas statement where he vowed to launch attacks inside Pakistani territory for killing Osama Bin Laden on intelligence proofs, he said that Obama could only make cosmetic changes. (ANI)